CHAS. WOOD FASSETT, Managing Editor 713 Lathrop Building, Kansas City, Mo. ASSOCIATE EDITORS

P. I. LEONARD, St. Joseph.
J. M. BELL, St. Joseph.
JNO. E. SUMMERS, Omaha.

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
H. ELLIOTT BATES, New York.
JOE BECTON, Greenville, Texas.
HERMAN J. BOLDT, New York.
A. L. BLESH, Oklahoma City.
G. HENRI BOGART, Paris, Ill.

ST. CLOUD COOPER, Fort Smith, Ark.
W. T. ELAM, St. Joseph.

JACOB GEIGER, St. Joseph.

S. S. GLASSCOCK, Kansas City, Kan.
H. R. HARROWER, Los Angeles, Cal.
JAS. W. HEDDENS, St. Joseph.
VIRGINIA B. LE ROY, Streator, Ill.
DONALD MACRAE, Council Bluffs.
L. HARRISON METTLER, Chicago.
DANIEL MORTON, St. Joseph.
D. A. MYERS, Lawton, Okla.
JOHN PUNTON, Kansas City.

W. T. WOOTTON, Hot Springs, Ark.
HUGH H. YOUNG, Baltimore.

The Editors' Forum

AARAAAARA

"THE DAY has come when America is privileged to spend her blood and her might for the principles that gave her birth and happiness, and the peace that she has treasured. God helping her, she can do no other." WOODROW WILSON.

Annual Meeting Medical Society
of the Missouri Valley

The 31st annual meeting of the Medical Society of the Missouri Valley was held at Omaha, Sept. 19-20, 1918. In spite of war time the sessions were up to the proverbial standard of attendance, interest and good fellowship. A fair sprinkling of military men added life and zest to the atmosphere. The Hotel Fontenelle, with its throng of guests, civil and military, maintained its reputation of life, gaiety and hospitality..

The program of 20 medical and surgical papers went along with a snap that kept interest at a high point. Our long distance guests added to the life of the meeting. Pottenger of California gave in an hour talk the present status of tuberculosis most comprehensively. Blackmarr of Chicago occupied a half hour on radium and x-ray treatment of cancer. Hopkins of Chi

cago, the railroad surgeon, gave a splendid talk on unusual fractures and dislocations. Lord of Omaha, back from army service, gave first hand experiences in surgical life in the hospital.

The patriotic banquet on Thursday evening was essentially military in character. The center of attraction was Colonel Franklin Martin, chairman of medical affairs, fresh from Washington, D. C. His address concerned largely the Volunteer Medical Corps; it was a patriotic and scholarly appeal. Col. J. M. Banister of Omaha (U. S. Army, retired) reviewed the achievements of the military surgeon, and made us feel the debt we, as a profession, owe the camp surgeon. There were a hundred and fifty men in attendance upon the banquet.

In the election of officers the society paid its tribute to the seventeen years of faithful service of our secretary, Chas. Wood Fassett, by electing him to the presidency. The vote was unani

mous.

Dr. Watson, of Diagonal, Iowa, was made first vice president; Dr. Aikin of Omaha, second vicepresident, and Dr. S. Grover Burnett of Kansas. City, secretary. The name of Dr. Gebhart, now in France, was retained as treasurer, the secretary to do the work until Gebhart returns.

The next meeting, Sept., 1919, will be held in Des Moines, where another profitable and interesting time is promised. We all left Omaha with the regretful air of longing for more, with the pleasant memory of the Thursday luncheon, given complimentary to the society by the Omaha Commerce Club. J. M. B.

are of ingenious invention, being far from simple affairs. The types are almost as numerous as the injuries for which they are made to aid in healing. The American Red Cross has taken over the job of supplying all splints to the American Expeditionary Forces, and in the vernacular of the streets, it is "some job." The demand for these particular articles is increasing at a great rate due to the increasing activity of American troops on the battle front.

To meet this demand the Red Cross has establishsed a splint manufacturing plant of its own in a large French town not far from the battle front.

While the splint construction is not complicated, it must be exceedingly careful and delicate. The splints that fit on the upper portion of the leg or arm must be carefully padded with felt and sheepskin. This work is done by French women and by hand.

Most of the leg and arm splints are made of steel rods bent in the shape of a U and are about four feet in length. They taper from the bottom up to the top where a semi-circular steel rod, attached to each end of the U by a hinge, is padded well and attached. Upon the padded part rests the thigh or shoulder of the injured member. The wounded or broken leg or arm is bandaged between the two sides of the U. The bottom of the U is dented in order that a bandage may be attached to the bottom of the splint and the injured member for the purpose of pulling or

applying the necessary weight to force the broken bones or torn muscles into place. It also serves to attach the splint to the foot of a bed or the front of an ambulance so that the wounded leg or arm may be elevated to any position which will give the greatest comfort to the sufferer.

There are numerous variations of this basic splint. Some have a hinge in the center of both sides of the U, so that an injured leg or arm may be bent at the knee or elbow and bound into position. Some have a hand rest at the end, by which the hand may be bandaged into an immov

There are small wire splints for the foot, the hand and the wrist.

All of them are made by hand in this factory, because of the lack of machinery. Even the welding and varnishing of the steel and wire. as well as the nickeling, is done in the Red Cross factory.

This is only one of the many activities from which the American Red Cross has relieved the army. During the past few months the Red Cross has been forced to let contracts to various private manufacturers to furnish a sufficient supply of these necessary hospital appliances. But with the growth of its organization, it has established its own manufactory in the war zone of France, in order that there may be fewer transportion delays and better service in the work of relieving as much suffering as possible among American wounded. W. D. H.

Stomachs-Pathologic

or Otherwise

without evidence. Some men eat inordinately, indiscriminately, recklessly and reach old age hale and hearty. They are those of the pioneer type and are rapidly disappearing. Most of us need to exercise some discretion in eating, in rapidity, quantity, frequency, time, mental attitude. Blessed is the man who has learned his limit, not only of eating, but life generally, and lives within it. When the limit is exceeded, get back to simple diet, laxative foods, more physical exercise, less mental strain, more mental buoy

ancy.

There is another large class of cases with very slight pathologic basis or shortcoming. which with a rational pace of living would pass unnoticed, yet with added insult in the way of dietary indiscretion, suffer. For instance, slow digestion and slightly retarded emptying due to pyloric hypersensitiveness will cause evening vomiting after three full meals. Two meals at day will put such a fellow to normal without treatment or medication.

Even where there is distinct pathology, indiscretion always aggravates symptoms and at times makes a difficult clinical picture. Dispose of the indiscretion and the pathologic entity becomes apparent and easily recognizable.

Hence the advantage, the necessity in all cases of restoring a patient to a simple hygienic life for a period, to be able to determine the physical limit, how much indicretion and the presence, if any, of pathology. J. M. B.

Impressions of Omaha by
Missouri Valley Doctors

Mighty fine town-real city.
Clean streets-well paved.

Progressive men-the bit in their teeth.
Splendid hotels-fine car service.
Grand convention city-all facilities.
Life in Omaha goes along with a snap and a
swing that portends growth and expansion.
The vigorous air of Omaha men must be due
somewhat to the ideal climate of Nebraska.
Omaha doctors are a splendid lot.
Let's go there again.

Medical Association

of the Southwest

Plans are all perfected for a grand meeting at Dallas, Texas, October 15, 16, 17, in which war topics will be widely featured. Dr. M. M. Smith, chairman of arrangements, has issued at letter to members stating that the Dallas Medical fraternity has taken active steps to arrange special clinics which will be of interest to the members of the association, and suitable entertainment of the guests will be provided, in keeping with the occasion. A complete program will

be mailed soon to the membership. Plans are being rapidly carried out to make the convention a thing to be remembered in medical history and association affairs, as a special war meeting. A large attendance is expected. In every case where possible members of the association should begin to lay their plans to be present for the three days'

session.

Crime and the Human Family

An exceedingly clever address has been delivered by Henry J. Girvin, chief of Buffalo Police Department, Buffalo, N. Y., and printed in the Buffalo Medical Journal. We quote the following extract:

"Without fear of successful contradiction it

may be stated that at every turn we meet individuals who have the appearance of perfect health and sound intellect, but a brief conversation will show at once that their brain has never

passed its childhood stage. The child who takes a penny is laughingly pronounced "clever" by this time he takes pennies and feeling secure in his foolishly fond parents, repeats the trick, but paternal approval, ever increases the amount until a thief is produced. They did not intend to be dishonest, but they planted the seed of a habit which grew on them until the prison doors closed for the protection of society. The same may be said of jealousy, lassitude and the like; from a small beginning, like the seed of the thistle, they grow and wax strong, and unless early uprooted, choke out and destroy all impulses for good, as the thistles choke out and destroy the tender grain.

"A well known authority has said, 'Habits are automatic gratifications of mind impulses,' in other words, the mind directs what the tongue, hands or feet carry out. It will be admitted that but one perfect man has ever lived, consequently we must strive to keep the human race in as nearly perfect condition as possible, and to use all our energies for its betterment.

"This one thing can be said with a reasonable assurance of reality, the first impressions are the ones that last; teaching should commence with the babe in the cradle.

"Although there is no doubt in the minds of police oficials who have made a study of crimes that the great majority of noted or habitual criminals are born such, education must not stop, for the saving of even one of these from a life of crime increases security in the mind of society and a saving of thousands of dollars to the taxpayers.”

We have nearly two million men in France. Every subscriber to the Liberty Loan helped send them there.

Dr. William W. Duke wishes to announce that after leaving for service with the American Red Cross in France, his practice will be carried on for awhile under the direction of his associate, Dr. Wilson A. Myers, who has been prevented from entering the service for the time being by a recent appendix operation. The clinical and Roentgen laboratories will be continued as before under the direction of competent assistants.

The Bobbs-Merrill Co. will publish very shortly another personal experience war story in spite of their determination to let well enough alone, meaning Private Peat, no doubt. The new book is entitled Kiltie McCoy and is by an Amer

ican traveling salesman who went to England on business when the war broke out and, taunted by a little woman with a white feather, fled to Scotland, changed his name and his birthplace and enlisted in the Cameronians. His manuscript, when submitted to the publishers aroused such enthusiasm that refusal was out of the question. The jacket of the book will bear the title and subtitle Kiltie McCoy-an American boy, with an Irish name, fighting in France as a Scotch soldier.

Battle Creek Sanitarium Offers War CourseThe Normal School of Physical Education, which is affiliated with the Battle Creek Sanitarium, has inaugurated a course in physiotherapy which meets the requirements of the War Department. The medical profession are asked to direct the attention of young women who are planning to engage in war work to this unusual opportunity. Four-month courses will begin October 1 and February 1. The curriculum consists of Anatomy, Physiology, Bandging, Active and Passive Movements, Hydrotherapy, Massage, Electrotherapy, and Clinics. Further information may be obtained from Dr. Frank J. Born, director of the school.

Apothesine or Cocaine? There are many indications that aposthesine is gradually superseding cocaine as a local anesthetic. This is not said in depreciation of the last mentioned drug. the merits of which are well understood. It must be remembered, however, that cocaine possesses some grave defects. Prominent among these is its toxicity. Furthermore, unrestricted use of the product leads ultimately to the formation of the cocaine "habit." Apothesine, while as efficient as cocaine, has been shown by comparative tests to be far less toxic than the latter. Moreover, it is not subject to the narcotic law, and its use does not eventuate in "habit" formation. Apothesine produces such complete anesthesia that even major operations are performed under its influence (quite as successfully as under cocaine), a fact that further emphasizes the import

ance of its discovery.

The Epidemic of Influenza-The epidemic of influenza now sweeping over the country-a part of the pandemic now covering the world-reported in this country first from seaports and naval stations, and later from many cities, including at least twenty-five army camps, with the craze for weird nomenclature accompanying war conditions, has been labeled "Spanish influenza." This, however, should not cause any greater importance to be attached to it, nor arouse any greater fear, than would influenza without the new name. This epidemic is of course modified as to its epidemiology by the fact that large numbers of the most healthful portion of our popu

lation have been segregated in military and naval camps. The condition presumably started in Spain and spread throughout the various armies. It has already practically disappeared from the Allied troops. A typical epidemic as it existed abroad is described in the paper by Hewlett and Alberty in this issue of the Journal; a typical epidemic at a naval station is described also in this issue by Lieutenant Keegan. It is needless and too early to discuss here the exact identity of the infectious agent. Few physicians will attempt to treat the condition with any special reference to its bacteriologic cause. The course of the disease is similar to the condition which has always been called influenza, except that it seems in some cases more severe, that it shows an extraordinary degree of contagiousness and that it is complicated or followed, in perhaps as many as 5 per cent of cases, by a massive and rather fatal bronchopneumonia. In its great prevalence it recalls the epizootic of earlier years. In the epidemic at Chelsea, Mass., this pueumonia was found to be caused by the influenza bacillus, which was recovered from 82.6 per cent of the lungs at necrotsy, and in 31.6 in pure culture, frequently mixed, however, with pneumococcus or streptcococcus infections. This pneumonia was fatal in 33 per cent of the persons attacked by it. Early reports of the epidemic at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station indicate a similar incidence of pneumonia and mortality. Medical authorities of the army, the navy and the Public Health Service are thoroughly alive to the condition, and are taking active measures to control it. These measures are based on our knowledge that the disease is transmitted from person to prson by direct contact, or indirect contact through droplet infection, and that it is therefore to be controlled by isolation and prevention of the transmission of these discharges. Because of the tendency to the development of the secondary bronchopneumonia, patients should be treated in well ventilated, warm rooms with special consideration for the possibility of this serious complication. Jour. A. M. A., Sept. 28, 1918.

The World War News

P. I. LEONARD, M. D.

"Our country; its need is our need, its honor our honor, its responsibility our responsibility. To support it is a duty, to defend it a privilege, to serve it a joy. In its hour of trial we must be steadfast, in its hour of danger we must be strong, in its hour of triumph we must be generous. Though all else depart, and all we own be taken away, there will still remain the foundation of our fortunes, the bulwark of our hopes, a rock on which to build anew-our country, our homeland, America."-From American Medicine, May, 1917 (National Number.)

Could we judge all deeds by motives

That surround each other's lives,

See the naked heart and spirit,

Know what spur the action gives,

Often we would find it better

Just to judge all actions good;

We should love each other better

If we only understood.

Don't kick. Come across. Buy more bonds. Lieut. B. O. Hartwell of Maysville is at Fort Riley.

Lieut. W. J. Hansen, St. Joseph, is at Fort Omaha.

Lieut. E. B. Kessler of St. Joseph is at Louisville, Ky.

Capt. A. S. J. Smith of St. Joseph is at Rochester, Minn.

Capt. W. H. Minton of St. Joseph is at Camp Sevier, S. C.

Lieut. H. T. Conrad of St. Joseph is at Fort Oglethorpe for instruction.

Capt. P. I. Leonard has been ordered to proceed to Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia.

Drs. W. J. McGill, J. M. Alleman, C. A. Good, L. R. Forgrave, and A. B. McGlothlan took the examination for a naval unit at Chicago, Sept. 19. From Sept 1 to July 20, 155 deaths occurred in training fields. It is calculated that there are a trifle over three deaths for every 10,000 hours of flight.

We

We have heard with profound regret of the death of a son of Col. J. M. Banister of Omaha. The doctor's three sons entered the army. Who can excel the patriotism of this family? sincerely hope that none other in this family will pay the supreme sacrifice for his country and the liberty of the world.

At the meeting of the Medical Society of the Missouri Valley, Omaha, Neb., on Sept. 19, Lieut. Col. Franklin Martin, in the most emphatic manner declared the action of expulsion of any member of a medical society because he does not offer his services to the government, is unpatriotic, unAmerican; that the U. S. government does not force or conscript any doctor, and that such action is intended for promotion of German propaganda.

The Division of Physical Reconstruction of the Surgeon General's office has opened the first army medical school for the reconstruction of the defects of hearing and speech at Army Hospital No. 11, formerly Hotel Cape May, at Cape May, N. J.

Dr. Herman J. Boldt, the well known surgeon of New York City, has suffered the supreme sacrifice in the loss of his only son, Herman J., Jrr., who was killed in action on the western front, "some where, over there." Lieut. Boldt was attached to the 102d infantry.

Col. J. M. Banister, Omaha, Neb., at the banquet of the Medical Society of the Missouri Valley at Omaha, the 19th of September, delivered a masterly address on "What Medical Science Owes to the Military Surgeon," and it was punctuated by continual applause on the part of the audience.

At the same banquet Lieut. Col. Franklin Martin explained the Voluntary Medical Reserve Corps. Corps. Col. Martin is energetic, forceful and wide awake.

The War Department has issued orders which will enable colored nurses who have been registered by the American Red Cross to render service for their own race in this country. These nurses will be assigned to various base hospitals at camps where about 30,000 colored troops are stationed. General Pershing was asked by cable whether the services of colored nurses could be utilized to advantage.

In a critical examination of our medical standards for recruits, many of the most important characters in military history would have been eliminated from the army. Caesar and Napoleon would have been ineligible for our army because of epilepsy. William of Orange and Guynemer because of respiratory defects. If Nelson had been retired when he lost his eye, there would have been no Trafalgar, and this might have changed the history of the world. The Kaiser, with a withered arm could not be in the army, and the crown prince would fail in the mental. examination.

Dr. E. C. Junger, of Soldier, noticed an item in this column about foreign born physicians receiving a commission under restrictions and he applied to the editor of the Medical Herald for the latter. The editor wrote to the Council of National Defense and received an extensive reply. The substance of Judge Advocate General S. T. Ansell's report is "that American citizens of Austrian or German birth, or who were born in alien enemy territory, who have passed the necessary examination and whose loyalty is unquestioned, may in the discretion of the commanderin-chief of the army and navy, be commissioned in the United States army or navy. Any other naturalized citizen may be commissioned.